Automatic rocker and glider

ABSTRACT

A rocking chair assembly including a flexible line connected at one end to a drive means on the chair base and movably connected at the other end in a housing mounted on the movable rocking chair member. A manually operated control mechanism has a first position tightening the line thereby providing a driving connection between the drive means and the rocking chair member. The mechanism has a second position loosening the line thereby permitting free movement of the rocking chair member. The chair assembly can include manually operated tension adjusting means operatively connected to the line to compensate for the different weights and sizes of persons using the chair.

United States Patent Zawadzki Sept. 11, 1973 1 1 AUTOMATIC ROCKER ANDGLIDER [76] lnventor: Antoni Zawadzki, l8 Hirschbeck,

Buffalo, NY.

[22] Filed: Oct. 7, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 78,817

[52] US. Cl. 297/260, 5/109 [51] Int. Cl. A47c 3/02 [58] Field of Search..-297/260, 271, 330,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,019,052 1/1962 Zawadzki297/260 1,985,131 12/1934 Wilke 297/260 2,841,802 7/1958 Leverett.....5/109 3,022,520 2/1962 Finger 5/109 3,225,365 12/1965 Miller et al.5/109 3,548,810 12/1970 Hoyer 128/25 Primary Examiner-Bobby R GayAssistant ExaminerGlenn O. Finch Attorney-Christel & Bean 57 1 ABSTRACTA rocking chair assembly including a flexible line connected at one endto a drive means on the chair base and movably connected at the otherend in a housing mounted on the movable rocking chair member. A manuallyoperated control mechanism has a first position tightening the linethereby providing a driving connection between the drive means and therocking chair member. The mechanism has a second position loosening theline thereby permitting free movement of the rocking chair member. Thechair assembly can include manually operated tension adjusting meansoperatively connected to the line to compensate for the differentweights and sizes of persons using the chair.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 29 727 3 5 92 F? a? Q? :24 .....fl I T:"1.. 5 7? l l 24 Q3 Q0 Q5 95' 71 AUTOMATIC ROCKER AND GLIDER BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to rocking chairs and, moreparticularly, to a new and improved rocking chair provided with motormeans for automatically rocking the same.

Motor-operated rocking chairs have been proposed and patented, and sucha chair is especially suited for use in hospitals and nursing homes. Anexample of this type of chair is shown in my US. Pat. No. 3,019,052issued Jan. 30, 1962 and entitled, Automatic Rocker and Glider." Asdescribed in that patent, the chair assembly includes a mechanicalclutch arrangement which is engaged under control of the user to providea driving connection between the motor and rocking chair member.

It would be highly desirable to provide an automatic rocking chairhaving both motor-operated and free rocking modes wherein a relativelygreater degree of movement is obtainable in the free rocking mode thanheretofore possible. Inasmuch as persons of considerably different sizesand weights will use the same chair, it would be desirable also toinclude in such a chair a means compensating for such differences sothat a smooth rocking movement is obtainable by all users. It would ofcourse be advantageous to provide the foregoing in a motor operatedrocking chair which is economical to manufacture and relatively easy tomaintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a rocking chairassembly including aflexible line connected at one end to a drive meansin the chair base and movably connected at the other end to a rockingchair member. When the line is tightened by a manually operated controlmechanism, a driving connection is provided between the drive means andthe rocking chair member. The tension of the flexible line is adjustableby manually operated means to compensate for the different weights andsizes of persons using the chair.

The foregoing and additional advantages and characterizing features ofthe present invention will become clearly apparent upon a reading of theensuing detailed description together with the included drawing wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a rear endelevational view, with parts removed, of a rocking chair assemblyaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken about on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, ofthe rocking chair assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken about on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken about on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a tension adjusting meansfor the chair assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the adjusting means of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to thedrawing, a rocking chair assembly according to the present invention isdesignated generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 3 and comprises a base member11 including supporting members l2, 13 which in the present instancehave horizontal supporting surfaces. A rocking chair member 15 ismovably mounted on base 11 and includes a generally horizontal seatportion 16, an inclined back portion 17 and a pair of arm rest members18, 19. Rocking chair member 15 includes supporting members 21, 22having downwardly convex surfaces which are supportingly engaged on therespective horizontal surfaces of the supporting member 12 and 13.Rocking chair 15 is retained on base 11 by means of a coil or fasteningspring assembly 23 connected to supporting member 12 and supportingmember 21 and by an identical spring assembly 24 connected to supportingmember 13 and supporting member 22. It is to be understood that includedwithin the scope of this invention are alternative arrangements formovably mounting chair member 15 on base 11 auch as the arrangementshown in my US. Pat. No. 3,019,052.

The rocking chair assembly 10 further comprises an eccentric designatedgenerally at 30 drivenly connected to motor means shown at 31 andmounted on base member 11. Motor 31 is a standard fractional horsepowergear motor operable: from conventional, line frequency alternatingcurrent. Eccentric 30 com prises relatively rotatable inner and outermembers 32 and 33, respectively, which preferably can be separated by abushing or sleeve of Teflon. The Teflon bushing or sleeve obviates theneed to lubricate eccentric 30. Eccentric member 32 can of course bedirectly connected through a shaft to the output of motor 31. When,however, a small reduction in r.p.m. of the drive is desired, eccentric32, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, is connected to a shaft 35 on which ismounted a wheel or pulley 36 drivenly connected through a belt 37 to awheel or pulley 38 connected on the output or drive shaft of motor 31.Shaft 35 is supported at opposite ends by a pillow bearing assembly 39mounted on base 11 and by a similar bearing assembly 40 mounted on atransverse frame member 41 attached to supporting members 12, 13.

Eccentric 30 is disposed in a generally vertical plane when chairassembly 10 is in its position of use. The assembly 10 according to thepresent invention further comprises a flexible line designated 45connected at one end 46 to eccentric 30 and at the other end 47 torocking chair member 15. Line 45 preferably is of wire to provide therequired strength and flexibility which a metal wire can furnish.

The rocking chair assembly according to the present invention alsocomprises a manually operated control mechanism connected to rockingchair member 15 and to line 45 at end 47. The mechanism has a firstposition tightening line 45 and thereby providing a driving connectionbetween eccentric 30 and] rocking chair mem ber 15. The broken lineportion of line 45 in FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrates the tightened conditionof line 45 in this first position. The mechanism has a second positionloosening line 45 thereby permitting free, thatis not powered or motoroperated, movement of rocking chair member 15. The control mechanismcomprises, briefly, connecting means designated generally at 49 mountedon rocking chair member 15, such as on transverse frame member 50, andconnected to end 47 of line 45 for raising that end of line 45 to loosenthe line. The control mechanism further comprises a handle 51 rotatablymounted at 52 on rocking chair member at a readily accessibly locationsuch as below the armrest members 18 or 19. The control mechanism alsoincludes motion transmitting means connected to handle 51 and toconnecting means 50 for raising end 47 of line 45 and tightening theline to provide the afore-mentioned driving connection, in response torotation of handle 51 in one direction. The motion transmitting meansalso functions to lower end 47 of line 45 to loosen the line in responseto rotation of handle 51 in another, i.e. the opposite direction.

The manually operated control mechanism according to the presentinvention can be seen in detail in FIGS. 1 and 3. Connecting means 59includes a housing 60 provided by a plate 61 mounted on rocking chairmember 15 such as on frame member 50 thereof. Plate 61 is provided withan elongated slot 63 therein and disposed so that slot 63 is generallyvertical. The surface of frame member 62 behind slot 63 can be recessedor, alternatively, plate 61 can be mounted on member 50 through spacersto provide the needed room behind plate 61. Housing 60 further comprisesfirst and second right angle channel members 64 and 65, respectively,mounted on plate 61 in opposed relation on each side of slot 63. Thesurface of channel member 64 which is perpendicular to the plane ofplate 61 is provided with an elongated slot 66, and the surface ofchannel member 65 perpendicular to the plane of plate 61 likewise isprovided with an elongated slot 67. By virtue of this arrangement, slots66 and 67 are in opposed, generally aligned positions on each side ofslot 63. In addition, it will be noted that channel members 64, 65 aredisposed with the longitudinal axes thereof slightly oblique relative tothe axis of slot 63. In other words, the space separating channelmembers 64, 65 is slightly larger near the bottom than at the top for apurpose which will be described. Housing 60 also includes a block member68 mounted on plate 61 and positioned adjacent the tops of channelmembers 64, 65 whereby the space between the channel members is closedby block 68 at the top thereof.

A connector member in the form of an elongated bar 70 is movablypositioned in housing 60 in a manner such that it can be raised andlowered. As shown in FIG. 4, bar 70 is of a length greater than thedistance from plate 61 to the front'surface of either channel member 64,65 and is of a width and thickness such that it is slidable in slot 63and, accordingly, movable between the channel members 64, 65. Bar 70 isprovided with a pin 71 extending therethrough at one end thereof anddisposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bar 70. Inoperating position, bar 70 is positioned whereby the ends of pin 71engage the rear surface or underside of plate 61 and the outer end ofbar 70 extends slightly beyond channel members 64, 65. As a result,connector member 70 is movable vertically within the limits defined bythe length of slot 63 and is movably retained in housing 60 by virtue ofthe engagement of pin 71 with the surface of plate 61. Line 45 isconnected at end 47 to the outwardly projecting end of connector member70. When connector member 70 is raised a sufficient distance, line 45 istightened as will be described presently. In addition, the provision ofblock member 68 limits the upward travel of connector member 70.

The control mechanism further comprises a vertically movable operatormember in the form of bar 75 which is positioned in housing 60 andcontacts connector member for raising and lowering the same. Bar is of awidth and thickness such that it is movable longitudinally betweenchannel members 64, and 65. A pin 76 extends through bar 75 in adirection perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, and oppositeends of pin 76 are received in corresponding slots 66 and 67 of thechannelmembers 64 and 65, respectively, for guiding bars 75therebetween. in addition, bar 75 is of a length such that when itraises connector member 70 to the upper limit of travel, the lower endof bar 75 extends below the bottom end of channel members 64, 65. Theslightly larger gap or spacing between channel members 64, 65 near thebottom thereof is to insure ease of vertical movement of bar 75therebetween.

The control mechanism also comprises motion transmitting means connectedto handle 51 and to the operator member 75 for raising member 75 totighten line 45 in response to rotation of handle 51 in one direction,and for lowering operator member 75 to loosen line 45 in response torotation of handle 51 in another or the opposite direction. The motiontransmitting means comprises a shaft 80 connected at one end 81 tohandle 51 and rotatably supported in rocking chair member 15 at theother end 82 thereof such as by a bushing. Shaft 80 preferably isdisposed generally horizontally, and perpendicular with respect to theplane of movement of chair 10. A first generally rectangular plate 85 isrigidly mounted on shaft 80 near end 82, and disposed so that the planeof plate 85 is generally perpendicular with respect to the axis of shaft80. A first connecting rod 86 is pivotally connected at one end thereofby connecting means 88 to plate 85 at a point offset from the axis ofshaft 80. Rod 86 is disposed so that in all opv erative positionsthereof it lies in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of shaft80. Connecting means 88 is threadably connected to the end of rod 86 tofacilitate adjustment therebetween.

A second, generally rectangular plate 90 is pivotally mounted to rockingchair member 15 such as through a connector member 91 rotatablyconnected in a bracket 92 secured to chair member 15. The other end ofconnecting rod 86 is pivotally connected by means of a connector 93 toplate 90 and at a point offset from the pivot axis 91 of plate 90. Asecond connecting rod 95 is pivotally connected by a connecting means 96at one end thereof to plate 90 at a point offset from the pivot axis ofplate 90 and from the point 93 at which first rod 86 is connected. Rod95 in all operative positions thereof extends at an angle relative torod 86 and is disposed in a plane generally parallel to the plane of rod86. A lever 98 is pivotally connected at one end 99 to the other end ofrod 95, and lever 98 is pivotally connected at the other. end 100 tooperator member 75. Lever 98 is pivotally mounted at 101 intermediatethe ends thereof to rocking chair member 15, such as on frame member 50.

The rocking chair assembly 10 according to the present invention canfurther comprise manually operated tension adjusting means operativelyconnected to line 45 for maintaining the proper tension on line 45 aspersons of different sizes and weights use the chair. The tensionadjusting means comprises a member 105 rotatably mounted on rockingchair member 15, such as by means of a shaft 106 rigidly attached tomember 105 and rotatably received in a bushing 107 which, in turn, isfixed in a transverse frame member 108 of chair member 15. While aseparate frame member 108 is shown, it is apparent that if the width offrame member 50 were increased in a direction toward base 11, member 105could be mounted on member 50. Member 105 is provided with spaced aparthook means 109 and 1 10, respectively, for engaging line 45 butpermitting movement of line 45 along the axis thereof. It will beappreciated that rotation of member 105 about shaft 106 a slight angulardistance will tension the line 45. A rotatable knob 110 is mounted onchair assembly at a readily accessible location, such as on rockingchair member below arm rests 18, 19, and rotations of knob 110 aretransmitted through a coupling means to member 105. In preferred formthe coupling means comprises a flexible line 112 connected at one end toknob 110 and at the other end to a coupling 1 13 which, in turn, isconnected to a shaft 114 having connected thereon a worm 115. Shaft 114is rotatably supported in a bracket 116 which is mounted on rockingchair member 15. A worn wheel 117 is connected to shaft 106 and disposedso as to be in meshing relation with worn 115.

The rocking chair assembly according to the present invention canfurther comprise visual lever indicator means 120, shown in FIG. 3, onrocking chair member 15 to indicate to the user his position of properbalance in the chair. In preferred form, the indicator 120 can comprisean elongated tube provided with a liquid including an air bubble 121 andspaced apart lines similar to a standard spirit level.

The rocking chair assembly according to the present invention also cancomprise a foot rest, designated generally at 125, operatively connectedto shaft 80 through spaced-apart linkage assemblies indicated generallyat 126 and 127, whereby upon rotation of shaft 80 by handle 51 in onedirection foot rest 125 is raised and upon rotation of handle 51 in theother direction foot rest 125 is lowered. Linkages 126, 127 are ofconventional construction readily familiar to those skilled in the artso that a detailed description thereof is deemed to be unnecessary.

The rocking chair assembly 10 according to the present inventionoperates in the following manner. When line 45 is in a loosened or slackcondition, a person sitting in chair assembly 10 can rock back and forthusing his own effort as in a conventional rocking chair. When automaticor motor-operated rocking action is desired, the user simply graspshandle 51 to pull it back toward him and thus rotate shaft 80 in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. The counterclockwiserotation of shaft 80 rotates plate 85 in its plane in a coun'terclockwise direction which, in turn, moves connecting rod 86 to rotateplate 90 about its axis in a counterclockwise direction. This, in turn,causes connecting rod 95 to move downwardly and pulling with it thecorresponding end 99 of lever 98. Lever 98, in turn, is pivoted about isconnection 101 to move operator member 75 upwardly thereby causing acorresponding upward movement of connector member 70. As a result,

line 45 is tightened or made taut, and this position of mechanism beinglocked and line 45 tightened to pro vide a driving connection betweeneccentric 30 and rocking chair member 15, the user now can activate aswitch 43 mounted on arm rest 19 to energize motor 31 for automaticrocking.

Prior to beginning this mode of operation, if the user notices that thedriving connection does not appear to be tight, as evidenced by the feelor the play of the rocking chair member 15, he can accordingly adjustthe tension in line 45. The user also can reposition himself in chairmember 15 while observing the level indicator 120 so as to adjusthimself to the chiar to get the proper balance. In particular, the userwould rotate knob 1 10 by hand to cause a corresponding rotation ofmember 105 to make line 45 shorter or longer. This may be necessary whenpersons of :a weight and size relatively larger or smaller than normaluse the chair. By insuring that line 45 is in proper tension, the chairassembly 10 will give the smoothest motion. Then, the user simplyactuates switch 43 and chair 10 provides a gentle rocking movement.

When the user wishes the automatic operation to stop so that he canleave the chair or switch to a manual or free rocking movement, he wouldfirst move switch 43 to deenergize motor 31 and then push handle 51 forwardly to rotate shaft in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3.This, in turn, causes plate to rotate in its plane in a clockwisedirection, and through connecting rod 86 produces a correspondingrotation of plate 90. This, in turn, raises rod to lower operator member75 and pin 70 to loosen line 45.

The smooth and gentle rocking movement provided by chair assembly 10 hasbeen determined to be particularly desirable for many hospital patientsin providing relaxation and in being beneficial. to circulation. Theprovision of flexible line 45 permits a longer or greater degree ofmovement in the free or manual rocking mode. Persons of considerablydifferent size and weight may use the same chair, especially in nursinghomes or hospitals, but in all instances these variations arecompensated for by the chair assembly 10 of the present invention. Aperson can adjust his position relative to the chair to maintain theproper balanced condition as shown to him by level indicator 1120. Inaddition the tension in line 45 is adjustable by the member undercontrol of knob 110.

Accordingly, it is seen that the present invention accomplishes itsintended objects. While a single specific embodiment of the presentinvention has been dee. a manually operated control mechanism connectedto said rocking chair member and to said line at said other end, saidmechanism having a first position tightening said line thereby providinga driving connection through said line between said eccentric and saidrocking chair member, and said mechanism having a second positionloosening said line thereby permitting free movement of said rockingchair member.

2. A rocking chair assembly according to claim 1 wherein said flexibleline is a wire line.

i 3. A rocking chair assembly according to claim 1 further comprisingmanually operated tension adjusting means operatively connected to saidflexible line to compensate for the different weights and sizes ofpersons using the chair.

4. A rocking chair assembly according to claim 1 further comprisingvisual level indicator means on said rocking chair member to indicate tothe user a position of proper balance.

5. A rocking chair assembly comprising:

a. a base;

b. a rocking chair member movably mounted on said base;

0. an eccentric drivenly connected to motor means mounted on said base;

d. a flexible line connected at one end to said eccentric and at theother end to said rocking chair member; and

e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rocking chairmember and to said line at said other end, said mechanism comprising ahousing mounted on said rocking chair member; a connector member movablypositioned in said housing for raising and lowering; said line beingconnected to said connector member and tightened when said connectormember is raised a sufficient distance; a vertically movable operatormember positioned in said housing and contacting said connector memberfor raising and lowering the same; a handle rotatably mounted on saidrocking chair member; and motion transmitting means connected to saidhandle and to said operator member for raising said operator member totighten said line in response to rotation of said handle in onedirection whereby said mechanism has a first position tightening saidline thereby providing a driving connection between said eccentric andsaid rocking chair member, and for lowering said operator to loosen saidline in response to rotation of said handle in another direction wherebysaid mechanism has a second position loosening said line therebypermitting free movement of said rocking chair member.

6. A rocking chair assembly according to claim 5 wherein said motiontransmitting means includes means for maintaining said operator in theraised position tightening said line until said handle is rotated insaid other direction.

7. A rocking chair assembly according to claim 5 wherein said motiontransmitting means comprises:

a. a shaft connected at one end to said handle and rotatably supportedin said rocking chair member;

b. a first plate rigidly mounted to the other end of said shaft anddisposed so that the plane of said plate is generally perpendicular tothe axis of said shaft;

0. a first connecting rod;

d. means for pivotally connecting one end of said rod to said plate at apoint offset from said shaft;

e. a second plate pivotally mounted to said rocking chair member;

f. means for pivotally connecting the other end of said rod to saidsecond plate offset from the pivot axis of said second plate;

g. a second connecting rod;

h. means for pivotally connecting one end of said second rod to saidsecond plate offset from the pivot axis of said second plate and fromsaid first rod; and i i. a lever connected at one end to the other endof said second connecting rod and at the other end to said operatormember, said lever being pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereofto said rocking chair member.

8. A rocking chair assembly according to claim 5 further including afootrest operatively connected to said shaft whereby upon rotation ofsaid shaft by said handle in one direction said footrest is raised andin another direction of rotation said footrest is lowered.

9. A rocking chair assembly comprising:

a. a base;

b. a rocking chair member movably mounted on said base;

0. an eccentric drivenly connected to motor means mounted on said base;

(1. a flexible line connected at one end to said eccentric and at theother end to said rocking chair member;

e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rocking chairmember and to said line at said other end, said mechanism having a firstposition tightening said line thereby providing a driving connectionbetween said eccentric and said rocking chair member, and said mechanismhaving a second position loosening said line thereby permitting freemovement of said rocking chair member; and manually operated tensionadjusting means operatively connected to said flexible line tocompensate for the different weights and sizes of persons using thechair, said tension adjusting means comprising a member rotatablymounted on said rocking chair member and having spaced-apart hook meansfor engaging said line but permitting movement of said line along theaxis of said line, said member tensioning said line upon rotationthereof; a rotatable knob mounted on said assembly; and coupling meansconnected to said knob and to said member for transmitting rotation ofsaid knob to said member.

10. A rocking chair assembly comprising:

a. a base;

b. a rocking chair member movably mounted on said base; c. an eccentricdrivenly connected to motor means mounted on said base;

(I. a flexible line connected at one end to said eccentric and at theother end to said rocking chair member; and

e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rocking chairmember and to said line at said other end, said mechanism having a firstposition tightening said line thereby providing a driving connectionbetween said eccentric and said rocking chair member, and said mechanismhaving a second position loosening said line thereby permitting freemovement of said rocking chair member, said control mechanism comprisingconnectfor raising said end of said line and tightening said line toprovide said driving connection in response to rotation of said handlein one direction and for lowering said end of said line to loosen saidline in response to rotation of said handle in another direction.

1. A rocking chair assembly comprising: a. a base; b. a rocking chairmember movably mounted on said base; c. an eccentric drivenly connectedto motor means mounted on said base; d. a flexible line connected at oneend to said eccentric and at the other end to said rocking chair member;and e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rockingchair member and to said line at said other end, said mechanism having afirst position tightening said line thereby providing a drivingconnection through said line between said eccentric and said rockingchair member, and said mechanism having a second position loosening saidline thereby permitting free movement of said rocking chair member.
 2. Arocking chair assembly according to claim 1 wherein said flexible lineis a wire line.
 3. A rocking chair assembly according to claim 1 furthercomprising manually operated tension adjusting means operativelyconnected to said flexible line to compensate for the different weightsand sizes of persons using the chair.
 4. A rocking chair assemblyaccording to claim 1 further comprising visual level indicator means onsaid rocking chair member to indicate to the user a position of properbalance.
 5. A rocking chair assembly comprising: a. a base; b. a rockingchair member movably mounted on said base; c. an eccentric drivenlyconnected to motor means mounted on said base; d. a flexible lineconnected at one end to said eccentric and at the other end to saidrocking chair member; and e. a manually operated control mechanismconnected to said rocking chair member and to said line at said otherend, said mechanism comprising a housing mounted on said rocking chairmember; a connector member movably positioned in said housing forraising and lowering; said line being connected to said connector memberand tightened when said connector member is raised a sufficientdistance; a vertically movable operator member positioned in saidhousing and contacting said connector member for raising and loweringthe same; a handle rotatably mounted on said rocking chair member; andmotion transmitting means connected to said handle and to said operatormember for raising said operator member to tighten said line in responseto rotation of said handle in one direction whereby said mechanism has afirst position tightening said line thereby providing a drivingconnection between said eccentric and said rocking chair member, and forlowering said operator to loosen said line in response to rotation ofsaid handle in another direction whereby said mechanism has a secondposition loosening said line thereby permitting free movement of saidrocking chair member.
 6. A rocking chair assembly according to claim 5wherein said motion transmitting means includes means for maintainingsaid operator in the raised position tightening said line until saidhandle is rotated in said other direction.
 7. A rocking chair assemblyaccording to claim 5 wherein said motion transmitting means comprises:a. a shaft connected at one end to said handle and rotatably supportedin said rocking chair member; b. a first plate rigidly mounted to theother end of said shaft and disposed so that the plane of said plate isgenerally perpendicular to the axis of sAid shaft; c. a first connectingrod; d. means for pivotally connecting one end of said rod to said plateat a point offset from said shaft; e. a second plate pivotally mountedto said rocking chair member; f. means for pivotally connecting theother end of said rod to said second plate offset from the pivot axis ofsaid second plate; g. a second connecting rod; h. means for pivotallyconnecting one end of said second rod to said second plate offset fromthe pivot axis of said second plate and from said first rod; and i. alever connected at one end to the other end of said second connectingrod and at the other end to said operator member, said lever beingpivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof to said rocking chairmember.
 8. A rocking chair assembly according to claim 5 furtherincluding a footrest operatively connected to said shaft whereby uponrotation of said shaft by said handle in one direction said footrest israised and in another direction of rotation said footrest is lowered. 9.A rocking chair assembly comprising: a. a base; b. a rocking chairmember movably mounted on said base; c. an eccentric drivenly connectedto motor means mounted on said base; d. a flexible line connected at oneend to said eccentric and at the other end to said rocking chair member;e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rocking chairmember and to said line at said other end, said mechanism having a firstposition tightening said line thereby providing a driving connectionbetween said eccentric and said rocking chair member, and said mechanismhaving a second position loosening said line thereby permitting freemovement of said rocking chair member; and f. manually operated tensionadjusting means operatively connected to said flexible line tocompensate for the different weights and sizes of persons using thechair, said tension adjusting means comprising a member rotatablymounted on said rocking chair member and having spaced-apart hook meansfor engaging said line but permitting movement of said line along theaxis of said line, said member tensioning said line upon rotationthereof; a rotatable knob mounted on said assembly; and coupling meansconnected to said knob and to said member for transmitting rotation ofsaid knob to said member.
 10. A rocking chair assembly comprising: a. abase; b. a rocking chair member movably mounted on said base; c. aneccentric drivenly connected to motor means mounted on said base; d. aflexible line connected at one end to said eccentric and at the otherend to said rocking chair member; and e. a manually operated controlmechanism connected to said rocking chair member and to said line atsaid other end, said mechanism having a first position tightening saidline thereby providing a driving connection between said eccentric andsaid rocking chair member, and said mechanism having a second positionloosening said line thereby permitting free movement of said rockingchair member, said control mechanism comprising connecting means mountedon said rocking chair member and connected to one end of said line forraising said end of said line to a tightened position and lowering saidend of said line to loosen said line; a handle rotatably mounted on saidrocking chair member; and motion transmitting means connected to saidhandle and to said connecting means for raising said end of said lineand tightening said line to provide said driving connection in responseto rotation of said handle in one direction and for lowering said end ofsaid line to loosen said line in response to rotation of said handle inanother direction.